Scale



June 26, 1928.

. 1,674,971 G. HuTcHlNsoN SCALE Filed Jan. 13, 192s weights by equipping the carriers of theV Patented June 26, 1928.

UNITED STATES" ENT OFFICE.

PAT

GEORGE HUTCHINSON, OF SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO'HV'UTCHINSON SCALE COMPANY, OE y SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION l OF WISCONSIN.

SCALE.

Application filed January 13, 1926. SerialNo. 80,995.

onthe beam, the total weight is more quick- Y ly' computed and with less likelihood of error when each size of weight is in a sepaiate group. In the ordinary hanger the various sizes of weights are usually placed one on top of the other Without 'discrimination vas to sizeor, where different sizes ot weights` `are employed, it is still feasible to combine them in any desired irregular arrangement, wherebyv computation may readily lead to an error. Y t' Another object of the invention is therefore to provide Vdifferent supports for different size weights and to retain the weights while in inoperative position on a carrier incorporated with the scale and in proper arrangement to facilitate the transfer of these weights Vfromv said carrier to their proper operative position. This object is accomplished by providing a carrier with V'several shelves differing in size from each other exclusively adapted for certain size weights only respectively, each of the shelvesl being arranged and constructed to receive weights of a predeterminedsize only, and to refuse to seat properly weights of other sizes than those intended `v`for it.l

It is also an object of the invention to construct the counterweights themselves in such manner that the weights cannot be supported upon each other indiscriminately7 so that weights of the same size only can be vplaced one on the other.

YIt is furthermore an objectof the invention'tofacilitate the transfer of weights froml operative to inoperative position by j arranging corresponding "shelves in these l positions respectively at the same level, when the scale is in balanced position.,

Another object of the invention is to facilitate handling ot a large number of weights withl corresponding shelves below and above the beam.

It is also an object of' the invention to facilitate the transfer and the observation of the weights on'each carrier by arranging k.portions of the carriers or hangers laterally of said shelves or of the weights, as contrasted with known devices in which the hanger is centrally-disposed of the seats and weights.

Another object of the invention is to render the supporting means whereby a carrier for the various groups of weight-s is suspended from the beam flexible in all directions, to allow of a whipping motion of the carrier. l

With these and numerous other objects in view, the invention is described in the ollowing speciiication in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.y

Y In the drawings:

Figurel is partly elevation and partly a sectional view oi a portion of al scale provided witlithe improved counterweiglits and their supports;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig- Figure 4 is an elevation of a platformv scale with the improved hangers applied thereto;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of parts of the support for the hanger;

Figure 6 is a detail elevation, to illustrate the effect of a shock upon a portion of the hanger;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view thru one of the improved weights, Vand i Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified suspension means ior the hanger supported from the beam. f

The scale illustrated by way ofexample in Figure 4 comprises a base l and a weighing platform 2, the base carrying an upright 3 having a top board 4 on which Vbearing posts 5 for the beam are mounted. The

Vbeam 6 carried on' lsaid posts 5 by means of y with the .poisesBv and 9` for suitable adjustment. Its stroke is limited as shown in Figiii-,eil by a tiig-loop 1.0 in the ordinary way,

The free endet the beam has hniie edges .11 from which vthe hanger 12 is supported by Suspension means indicated as a whole at 13. The here@ l2 Preferably iS av 'frame struc: tii'i'e"`o li bent sheetimetal. ',Qoiitraryy to vided with seats for counterweights which are laterally f the hanger whereb-ya poriV tion ot said hanger also naturallyis lateral# j ly of the weights placed upon the seats. The hangerr12-is shown as having two shelves 14 and 15 belowthebeam and it is provid-ed with an'upwa'rd extension 16 teriiiinatiiig in a shel't17A above the beam.

. "These shelves differ .iii their sizes, the lowerniost shelf being the largest one and" the Vshelfabove the beam being the 'sinallestone f l responding to receive different size s weights in proper position; the size l oftheshelves or seats cor- 'Nenerally to the size orarea of `the weights, the shelves, hanger andweights being constructed in suchv manner that the different size weights can be pioperly'seated on the-pertaining vshelves only. Y f Y l For this purpose theweights indicated at e0, w, I102 iespectively'are provided with top fseatings18, 181', 192 and bottoni sea-tinge 19,

19'., 19? respectively, the seatings 'comprising projections and; recesses lrespectively vdiilerent for eachsize of weight but i'eciprocally identical with each other.V `The shelves in Ytheir tiirn are Yprovided with .stops l20," 20, 2O2 projecting upward from the saine and adaptedtofenter thebottoin seatings 19, 19, ,192 ofthe weight resting directly onV the shell.` f l ,i As ilustrated in` Figures 1, 2 and the projections 20, 20, V2O2 on Ythe shelves Yare progressively `decreasing in size upward in correspondence to-the size ot the pertaining -w-eights, and the support 12, presents portions, as atk 21,V 22, 23, atprogressively decreasinghorizontal distai'i'cesI from theginiddle oil the projections on the shelves 15,14, 17 respectively'whereby these portions act as stop'stor the` positioning ot' the weights on the slielves v Y lt-'is obvious, therefore, that forinstance -a weight wproperly pertaining to the iniddle shelf 14 cannot be placed on the bottom shelf 15 since the aprojection2()2 on the bottom shelf is to large to` tit. into the recess or bottom-seating 19701' said weight fw.

The middle weight w also could not be seated onvthe topshelf 17 above the beam since thel vertical portion 2301i that part would act Vas a stop. Figure V3 illustrates this condition 'by wayof example in connection with a larger weight-w2 and the middle shelf,

and the inediinn size weight w" onV the lower shell 1.5. V`This figure also illustrate'show thenpward projection on` alarger Weight fw2 preventsa smaller weightw from being Y .stacked thereon. ,The projectionsextending of theliscale. j

shelves on the waiting ladder and the pi'o-v s Y from the weight-s which are shown as bein@ j as shown iii Figure 3, with -a` steeper Vslope known constructions, this Vhanger 12 is pro- 2a' vfollowed by alesssteep slope 25SVA YOwing to this coniigui'ation ot the projection theternary clotting ofthe weights to enablethem to be placed on aliangerl provided with a central rod as in known const i'uctions, is

dispensed with.'

jl/Yhile the `description above iiieiitioned nialres particular reference tothe hanger' or' ,weightladder 12 suspended :troni the bean] 6,.the scale also comprises acoinmon support 28 ior shelves 29, 29 inja position ,in which they are not in cooperation with the, beam but maybe in readiness for transfer. to beaniposition. This waiting ladder 28 is shown ,Y

.as beingsecured to the top boardtA and is also preferably niadeofl sheet ine'talot a l construction similar lto that of .the other` ladder 12.l YThe waiting structurealsoin-rV cludes aii extension 8O projecting` above the beain 3 and likewise secured to thev top board The arrangement Yor" 'the jections: on these shelves tortitting into the bottom seating recesses 19, 19', 192, respec-` tivelyot the lowerniost weight olla staclrot weights also are identical to that described in connection with the g companion hanger or ladder 12, and Vsimilarly also corresponding portions of the waiting ladder28l'ai'e arvvranged relatively'to the projections oiitlie pertaining shelvesfto permit the seating ot the proper weights on said` sli'elvesfonly,`

whereby said portions ol the ladders act as iio stops to; prevent displacement'ot` the weights Y on tl'ie'pertainng shelves and also render impossible the placingrof a larger weight on a shell` pertainingto arsinaller. size weight. The lower portion of the; waiting ladder l28 Vsecured below the top, board 4.', is provided 1 with4 shelves whichr are at the saine level .as the shelves of the companion: ladder 12.v

as longfr as the beam is in, balanced position.` i

Freni Figure 2 it will alsobe apparentthat tl'ie'general plane of the waiting ladder is lat anangle to the general plane of the coin- 'panioiifladderfl2rso^that the inajoraxes of the oblong weights well as tlieinajor et "the oblong 'projectionsrylthereon) when placed .oli correspondingV shelves con` verge, the nfiajor axes iii either ycasefbeing radially trema point l? representingv the,

other, at right angle tothe plane of the' beam.

By the means described herein the weights and shelves are rendered what `is termed exclusive permitting the proper seating of pertaining sizes of weights onr each other only or on the corresponding shelves only, and while the weights shown are non-circu lar it is obvious that the same principles of exclusion may be applied to `circular weightsy with circular recesses and projections, the frame, however, beingV non-.central as inthe present case. f

Owing to this non-central arrangementof the frame or ladder 12 special balancing means are provided for the same. A weight 31 is fixed to the bottom of the ladder at one side of the vertical plane passing medially through the beam tocause the ladder to hang plumb, the weights when properly seated being symmetrically disposed as to said plane. The fixed weight 31 contains a socket 32 to receive anadjustable quantity of'shot 33 or the like to cause the hanger to counterbalance the platform of the scale. Attached to the bottom ofthe hanger is a guidev plate 34 with an aperture 'through which the guide pin 35 adjustably secured to the brace 36 for the waiting ladder 28 projects. The brace 36 connects this ladder with the upright 3 of the scale.'` Y

In order to 'avoid any grinding action of the suspension means 13 on the knife edges 11 of the beam, a. flexing system is provided insaid suspension means. Thissystem permits the hanger 12 suspended from the beam to swing to a limited extent at right angle to the beam, the swinging movementbeing limited by the contact of the hanger wit-l1 'the guide pin which projects from a brace securing the lower part of the companion or waiting ladder to a fixed part of the scale, as for instance to the uprightshown in Figure 4.

Flexibility in this suspension system, however, also is necessary since the upward extension on the beam hanger is liable to receive shocks which would then be transmitted with considerable leverage upon the hanger itself. Theeflect of these shocks is illustrated in Figure G by the force indicating arrow 37V showing that the lower part of the hanger 12 would be forced to the right if the force acting on the upward extension 16 is directed towards the left. Owing to the inter-position of a flexible system between the knife edges 1l and the hanger 12 a portion of these shocks or of the force is absorbed by the suspension means 13. The' suspension means include the ordinary shackle 38 having at its lower end a lug 39 to which the upper margin of a `'flat spring blade-40 is secured in a. plane coinciding with avertical longitudinal plane through the beam when the scale is at rest. To the lower end of this spring blade 40 another small bracket 41 is secured to which the upper margin of another similar spring blade 42 at right angle to the first named spring blade is secured. y'While the upper spring blade'40 stands in a vertical planeat right anglev to the axis of ythe knife edges 11, the lower blade 42 will normally occupy a vertical plane containing the axis through the knife edges. The lower spring blade 42 is secured at its margin to the top end of the hanger' 12. l

In known constructionsof hanging supports for counterweights no provision is made for permitting a twisting of this supportwithout producing a grinding action on the knife edges. The construction described abovevwill permit the hanger 12 to twist under vthe influence of shocks, but this twisting takes place against the torsional resistance of the springs 40, 42. Their resistance will quickly cause the hanger to return to its normal position. The upper spring blade 40 also ypermits the hanger 1;! to swing crosswise of the beam while the lower spring blade 42 will permit a swinging movement upon flexing of said blade 1n longitudinal direction of the beam. By reference to Figure 6 it will be noted that a force 37 acting in longitudinal direction of the beamr would cause a displacement of the hanger below the frame thereof in the op posite direction whereby the lower spring 42 would be subject to a flexing strain, since the swinging movement of the hanger in the above mentioned direction is limited. If the suspension means 13 would not provide for this flexibility the shackle 38 would necessarily move crosswisc of the knife edges 11 and a frequent occurrence of this character would detrimentally influence the exactness 'of the scale. Also the fact that the flexed flat spring 42 is a considerable distance below the knife edges ,11 reduces the angle of oscillation of the shackle to a'minimum, the angle of oscillation being indicated in dotted lines.Y The opening in the plate 34 at 'the lower endy of the suspended ladder 12 will limit the swinging movement of the ladder in either direction. 1

These swinging motions which mayv take place either as a twist about a vertical axis,

loo

Y ll' or lengthwise or crosswise ofthe beam, may

` be designatedas AWhip motions :as contrasted-'With the translationalmovements of a similarly suspended Weight support de scribed in afcopending'application Serial No. 74,793.- Each `of the spring blades 4t),y

42 permits a one-ivaywvhip lmovement While the combination of the blades jpei'mits Whip ment ofthe planes-ofthe 'spriiigfblades-40,

42, these bars havingA spherical or partly spherical heads 46 at each` end. It will be seen that a pair of rods 44 extendsjthrougli thel shacklebraclret in a plane parallelto Vthe longitudinal plane of thebeam, the loiver ment.

enlarged end` of` these` V,bars `projecting through another `bracket .or plate 474A to which also the other Vpair of rods 45Iin a plane atright angles thereto` is secured. Vfhile, therefore, the upper pair of-rods 44 Will normally swing= in vaplane at rright angleto the longitudinal axis of the beam, the lovverpairof. rods-45 may oscillate in a plane parallel to the longitudinal aXisof the. beam. Herealso the Whip motionpof the suspension in either Ydirection isren-V dered possible similar to that described in connection with the first mentioned embodi- V Althoughthe presentdrayvingsrslioiv the Waiting` ladder as fixed to the framework ofthe scaleV it' is obvious that thisattfaclr mentlto a fiXed'partonly is notabsolutely.

essential .and that this hanging-,ladder may be secured to anothermovable part to influence some mechanism, as, for instance a computing chart, in a manner siniil'arto that disclosed .in thecopending application Serial No. 80,996.

' Iv claim: l e

l. A scale 'having counterweights'l of different sizes,I supports .for retaining said Weights in operative position, diierentsupports laterally of theffirst supports Vfor different size VWeights Vfor retaining` the` Weights in inoperative position, and, afcar-rier Vfor said last: named supports incorporated ,with the scale; f Y I 2. A- scale having countervveightso-f differentV sizes, different supports for-retain- Y ing said different sized Weights inoperative position and diiferentvsupports laterally of the lirstsupportsI for ret-ainingf different Y sized Weights in inoperative position.

twee-r1;

scale havingicounteriveights of difi a common carrier for the last named shelves said different sized weights in operative position and. different slielvesfor retaining different sized Weights in inoperative pos1- 'tion, andja common carrier for the last named shelves incorporated `with the scale, corresponding shelves for the saine size Weights being at equal level when the scale is in balanced condition. v

5. A scale having counteriveights of different sizes and means forV supporting the countervveights inuse separate from .theinoperative counteriveights, including aV carrier laterally of the pathy described by the Y countertveights in use :for retaining said counteriveights. in inoperative position, th carrier having shelves, one of them ladapted to carry a plurality offiveights of the saine SlZ. Y v .l l 6.- In a scale, a support foi counter- Weights, having shelves bearing different seats, and counteriveights of different sizes. sucliy Weights tbeing adapted to -beliiioved laterally for beings-cated uponsuch-f diifei-, ent seats,A respectively.`

7 .l InA a scale, counteriveights of different sizes, a :supportr for counteriveightslhaving laterally accessible shelves for seating. different sized Weights, and means at one side offsaid shelves," for preventing the "seating of'any Weightonv any shelf not pertaining to its sizeof Weight. Y

8J A scale', having counteriveights of 'different sizes, and having a fshelf `for each size of Weight, such shelves lia-ving different seating suifacesuon th'einuppensides arranged ytoprevent seating of the non-pertaining Weiglits of said shelves, and Vsuch Weights having, upon their upper sides, seating surfaces identicalwith those of the pertaining shelves respectively, and, upon their lower sides, surfaces reciprocal ltotheirl up'- Lpersurfaces. i A, v

' 9.' Ajfscale, ha vi ng Vcountersteights offdi'fferent/sizes, and 'having va shelf laterally acvcessible 'from vseveral side-s for each size lof Weight,Y and aA common supporty for said lll) shelves, said shelves and said support being Y so arranged -rela'irtively to -eachother that tno larUer `Weight can beseated u )on a. shelf t) n n c A 4 y pertainingto smaller size of Weight.A

10. In a scale,fcounterweights of different.

`cross-measureinents, a shelf `for each y different size of Weight, topjseatings on Vthe tops of the shelves --andof the Weight-s, bottom seatings on the under sides ofthe Weights,

support for suc i shelves, the shelves having upward projectionsof progressively decreasing sizes, respectively, the weights having upward projections identical with those of the pertaining shelves, and having recesses in their under sides reciprocal with the up ward projectionl of each, and the support having port-ions at progressively decreasingk horizontal distances from the middles of the projections on the shelves respectively.

12. A scale weight having an upward proj ection of substantially oblong shape in horizontal cross-section, the projection diminishing upward withla steeper slope followed by a less steep slope. y

13. A scale, having counterweights, a support suspended :trom the beam and having shelves for the counterweights below the beam and above the beam. f n

14. In a scale,"a hanger suspended from the beam of the scale and having shelves for counterweights below the beam, a shelf above the beam and an extension on the hanger to which said last named shel1 is secured, the

extension beinglateral of the suspension element. n

15. In a scale, a hanger for counterweights oscillatably supported in the scale, a guide pin and a guide loop adapted to limit the oscillations of such hanger, the pin projecting upward thru the loop, either of said last named elements being secured to the hanger. y

16. In ascale, a hanger for counterweights oscillatably supported in the scale, a guide pin and a guide-loop adapted `to limit the oscillations of such hanger, the pin projecting upward thru the loop, the loop being at the side of the hanger.

17. In a scale, a beam, a bearing in the` same, a hanger for counterweights, and two superposed interconnected structures, each adapted to twist resiliently in a plane at right angle to the other interposed between the hanger and the bearing.

18. In a scale, a beam, a bearing in the same, a hanger for counterweights, a shackle supported from the bearing, and two superposed interconnected structures each adapted to swing in a. plane at right angle to the other and to twist resiliently about its axis, the two structures being interposed between the shackle and the hanger.

19. In a scale, a beam, a bearing in the same, a hanger for counterweights, and two superposed interconnected structures, eac-h adapted to swing in a plane at right angle to the other interposed between the 'hanger and the bearing, the lower one of said structuresV being in the vertical plane of the axis of the bearing.

20. In a scale, a beam, a bearing in the same, a hanger :tor counterweights, and two superposed lixedly connected lat springs in planes at right angle to each other interposed between the hanger and the bearing.

21. In a scale, a beam having a non-cin n cular seat adapted to receive counterweights suspended from the beam, the suspension means including two superposed interconnected structures, each adapted vto swing in a. plane at right angle to the other and to twist resiliently, said suspension means being adapted to absorb any twisting movement of the hanger relatively to the beam upon the positioning or removal of said non-circular counterweights.

22. In a scale, a hanger and a waiting ladder, each having a shelf bearing a seat for a counterweight, such respective seats being at the same level, and such seats being adapted to seat oblong weight-s, respectively, with the major axes of suc-h weights converging.

23. In a scale, a hanger and a waiting ladder, each having a shelf bearing a seat for a. counterweight, such respective seats being at the same level, such weights being oblong in shape and being adapted to seat themselves on either seat, with their major axes in either case radial from a point representing the location of the arm of the person operating the scale.

In witness whereof I aix my signature.

GEORGE HUTCHIN SON. 

